What kind of feed is good for goslings?

[crj]

I have acquired 2 goslings. One was only a few hours old and not doing well. The baby hatched while it's mother got off the nest so he got cold. The other gosling was fine and healthy and was about a day old. The one that was having trouble did much better with in 24 hours.

I'm feeding them non medicated starter grower and they are getting grass daily along with fresh water. Is there anything else they should be getting? I ask this because the girl (hoping) is growing fast and is now much bigger then the boy (hoping). They also live with 4 baby chicks that are about 4 days older then them. All get a long fantastically. Should I be worried about the smaller gosling? I am new to geese and wasn't totally prepared for them. So I'm hoping someone here with more knowledge then I can help me out. Also, they are Sebastopol geese. The goslings are just over 2 weeks old and the yellow is starting to fade. I have 2 pictures of them. I know they aren't the best but I will try and get some this afternoon.

I'm hoping this is the female. She has a more mature look to her.

I'm hoping this is the male. He looks young and not maturing as quickly.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I have a couple of Sebastopols too and they are sweet geese. I fed them chick starter with greens/grass, too. If I remember correctly, they aren't supposed to be on the starter the same amount of time as the chicks. Our feed bags actually had the recommended amount of weeks ducks vs chicks were supposed to stay on the feed, But I can't recall what it said.

Yes, the grayer colored one is likely the girl. I think the other will catch up in size eventually. Just make sure the nibbling geese, don't nibble to much on their chick friends, but fortunately it looks like they have plenty of room to get away if they do.

 

[pete55]

Here in the UK we use Waterfowl Chick Starter Crumbs for 3 weeks then switch to Waterfowl Rearer Pellets. Supplement with short grass and chopped Dandelions

 

[shelleyd2008]

Mine get the same as the chicks--20% medicated starter--plus grass, until about 3 weeks old. Then they are outside and eat whatever the adult geese 'feed' them, usually corn or grass.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I was just checking out a thread on anglewing, which is a droopy wing that can develop in waterfowl. It is thought to be associated with too much protein in the diet. So it is good that the chicks are older than the geese because i think they stay on starter a little longer than geese, before moving on to grower feed. One thread said drop to 15% protein by 4 weeks.

 

[crj]

So, should I stop the starter grower when they are about a month old? or can they go longer? I do have layer pellets, can I give the goslings that? It's 16%. I will have to check the bag on the starter grower to see what it is. I don't want them to develop angle wing because their parents have it from too much protein. Chicks stay on the starter grower for a long time so I'm trying to figure what would be a good feed for both the geese and the baby chicks since they eat from the same source.

All of you have been very helpful, thank you.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Get some cracked corn and mix it with the starter for the goslings. You'd probably be better off keeping the goslings separate from the chicks since they get very big, very fast, and make a huge mess with their water. Wet bedding and chicks don't mix very well.
ETA: If the parents have angel wing it might be genetic. True that the feed does contribute to it but mostly it is a genetic problem. They usually start to develop it around 4-6 weeks old when they start getting their wing feathers.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Oh I reread your first post. The chicks are only 4 days older, so yes they will be on starter for longer. Most feed stores have 15% grower or at least Tractor Supply does, but you want to make sure the label says it is ok for waterfowl too, not just chickens. That means is has enough niacin for waterfowl. They really shouldn't have the extra calcium yet that is in layer. It looks like they are spending a good deal of time outdoors, so they are probably getting grit from the dirt, but if there is any doubt give them some chick grit if you decide to give them corn. If you can't find any grower then mixing in the cracked corn makes sense around a month old. I can't think of a way you would prevent the goslings from eating the chick feed after 4 weeks. You might want to put them in pens next to each other. Its true, goslings are way messier than chicks.

 

[boredcolliejane]

scratch'n'peck :

Just make sure the nibbling geese, don't nibble to much on their chick friends, but fortunately it looks like they have plenty of room to get away if they do.

Yes, my goslings were nibbling at my chicks and now one of my chicks has almost no tail left! Not exactly what you'd call starter feed...​

 

[scratch'n'peck]

oh no poor chickie